English Today

Speak vs Talk

A Speak

1. It's a little formal and often gives the idea that a person is saying more than any others in a conversation:

- He won't listen to me. Will you speak to him?

- I'm going to speak to the manager about the way I have been treated.

2.  speak + language

- My sister speaks German fluently.

- What's he speaking? (=what language?)

- I don't speak a word of Italian.

B. TALK

1. It's much more common in spoken English than speak and suggests that two or more people are having a conversation:

- We stayed up all night talking.

- Are you two talking about me?

2. talk about = discuss

- They're talking about the new Harry Potter film.

- I really don't want to talk about it.

C. Expressions with SPEAK

• speak for yourself = tell someone that you have a different opinion
• speak out of turn = say something when you don't have the right or authority to say it
• - I hope I haven't spoken out of turn. I didn't know it was supposed to be a secret.
• speak well / badly / ill of someone = say good or bad things about someone
• - It's wrong to speak ill of the dead.
• speak volumes = to express something very clearly
• - He never told her that he loved her, but his actions spoke volumes.

D. Expressions with TALK

• talk someone into doing something = persuade someone to do something

- Try to talk Liz into buying a ticket for the concert.

• look who's talking! - used to tell someone that they shouldn't criticise others because they are just as bad.

- Tom (a smoker) : "Peggy, you shouldn't smoke so much."

- Peggy: " Look who's talking!"

• talk tough = tell people very strongly what you want from them.

- The new manager has already started talking tough.

• talk sense = give sensible (logical) opinions about things

He's quite old-fashioned but he talks sense.

• talk the hind legs off a donkey = to talk a lot, especially about trivial or unimportant things.
• be talking through your hat = to say silly or stupid things about something that you think you know a lot.

Say vs Tell

Say = speak words

Tell = give an account

A. SAY

• It can introduce a statement in direct speech or follow it.

Tom said: "I've just heard the news." or "I've just heard the news", Tom said.

• say + to + person addressed

In this case, the phrase follows the direct statement:

"I'm leaving at once", Tom said to me.

B. TELL

• tell + person addressed

It is placed after the statement and is always followed by the person addressed:

"I'm leaving at once", Tom told me.

• tell + person + to-infinitive

- He told me to call later.

- The teacher told us to do all the exercises.

Attention!

tell somebody that ...  BUT say that .... or say to somebody that ... (in spoken English)

- He told me that we had to go.

- He said that we had to go.

- He said to us that we had to go. (spoken)

C. Expressions with SAY

• say my prayers
• it goes without saying
• let's say
• say something / nothing / anything
• say a word
• say hello / good morning / goodbye
• say no more
• I'd rather not say

D. Expressions with TELL

• tell my name
• tell the time
• tell the truth
• tell lies
• tell a story
• tell a secret
• tell the difference
• tell a joke
• tell somebody something
• tell me another (used when when you don't believe what someone has told you)

DO NOT SAY: He said me but He said to me.

DO NOT SAY: He told to me but He told me.

State vs Situation vs Condition

A. State

= the emotional, mental or physical condition that someone or something is in at a particular time

• Frankly, I wouldn't trust his emotional state right now.
• Water exists in three states: liquid, gaseous and solid.
• After the accident, the driver was in a state of shock.
• "You are in no fit state to go out yet," the doctor said.
• After the hurricane, the president declared the city in state of emergency.

B. Situation

= a combination of all the things that are happening and all the conditions that exist at a particular time, in a particular place - a situation comprises many conditions

• In the present situation, I wouldn't advise you to sell your house.
• By asking me to lie, you're putting me in a very awkward situation.
• I'd better talk to the boss and explain the situation.
• In view of the company's financial situation, there will be salary cuts this year.
• With no rain for three months and food supplies running out, the situation is getting desperate.

C. Condition

= the state that something is in / the state of somebody's health / the situation of a group

• What sort of condition is your new house in?
• The garden was in a condition of total neglect.
• Although it's very old, the car is in excellent condition.
• The doctor described the Prime Minister's condition as satisfactory.
• Few people can appreciate the condition of the poor in our cities.

"State" and "condition" are similar in meaning, but "condition" gives a more detailed description while "state" is more general.